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‘Wrong way down the highway’ driver arrested after US crash that killed six

DIAMOND BAR (California) — A wrong-way driver on a Southern California freeway was arrested yesterday (Feb 10) after being accused of causing a pre-dawn crash that left six people dead, authorities said.

Officials investigate the scene of a multiple vehicle accident where 6 people were killed on the westbound Pomona Freeway in Diamond Bar, California on Feb 9, 2014. Photo: AP/San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Officials investigate the scene of a multiple vehicle accident where 6 people were killed on the westbound Pomona Freeway in Diamond Bar, California on Feb 9, 2014. Photo: AP/San Gabriel Valley Tribune

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DIAMOND BAR (California) — A wrong-way driver on a Southern California freeway was arrested yesterday (Feb 10) after being accused of causing a pre-dawn crash that left six people dead, authorities said.

Olivia Culbreath, 21, of Fontana, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter in connection with the crash on State Route 60 in this suburb east of Los Angeles, California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said.

“It’s horrific,” Mr Jimenez told KABC-TV about the crash scene. Three people were ejected from their cars and the red Chevy Camaro driven by Culbreath was badly mangled.

Authorities said Culbreath was traveling east on the westbound lanes of the freeway around 4.40 am when the Camaro collided head-on with a Ford Explorer. A Ford Freestyle then collided with the Explorer.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two people died after being taken to the hospital, he said.

Culbreath was in serious condition at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center with a broken femur and a ruptured bladder, Mr Jimenez said.

“There was evidence of alcohol consumption,” he said.

The victims included a 24-year-old woman from Chino and a 24-year-old woman from Rialto, Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Fred Corral told the Los Angeles Times. Both were passengers in Culbreath’s car.

Another victim, a 47-year-old man, is believed to have been a passenger in the Ford Explorer. AP

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